Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse vividly portrays Philistine cities in deep mourning, using "baldness" as a symbol of extreme sorrow. However, the phrase "remnant of their valley" hints at something more: it may not just refer to survivors in a geographic area, but also potentially the last vestiges of a once-powerful people, or even echoes of ancient giants mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, suggesting a layered sense of decline.
Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah is vividly describing the impending doom of the Philistine cities, particularly Gaza and Ashkelon. He paints a picture of deep mourning and utter devastation already occurring, contrasting their former prominence with their imminent ruin. The prophecy then directly questions the survivors in their now-devastated land, challenging their self-inflicted sorrow as if it could somehow reverse God's judgment.
Why would a prophet describe cities as 'bald' and their people 'gashing themselves'? Jeremiah uses stark imagery to convey the depth of destruction.
Jeremiah paints a grim picture of impending doom for the Philistine cities of Gaza and Ashkelon. The phrase 'baldness has come upon Gaza' isn't just about hair loss; it signifies extreme mourning and devastation, a public display of utter despair, similar to what one might do when facing profound loss.
Similarly, 'how long will you gash yourselves?' points to a ritualistic self-harm common in ancient near-eastern mourning practices, often seen in acts of extreme grief or desperation. Jeremiah uses these visceral images to show that the Philistines' judgment isn't just political defeat but a total breakdown of their society and a sign of their deep distress.
The text mentions 'the remnant of their valley,' but some ancient translations point to something much older and more fearsome. What does this detail reveal?
The phrase 'remnant of their valley' is a bit obscure, but some scholars and ancient translations, like the Septuagint, suggest it might refer to 'the remnant of the Anakim.' The Anakim were a legendary race of giants known for their imposing stature, who inhabited the land before the Israelites. They were a formidable people, and remnants of them were known to have lingered even into the time of the Philistines.
This possible connection to the Anakim adds another layer to the prophecy. It suggests that the Philistine cities, including Gaza and Ashkelon, were not just losing their current population but were also facing the judgment of an ancient, powerful lineage, almost as if the land itself was reclaiming its earliest, fearsome inhabitants. It underscores the totality of the judgment falling upon this region.
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Understand the original words
qorchah · Hebrew Noun
A sign of extreme grief, mourning, or shame in the ancient Near East. It was often self-inflicted or forced upon captives to symbolize the stripping away of glory and honor.
gadad · Hebrew Verb
A pagan practice of cutting or lacerating one's body as an expression of intense grief or religious frenzy, which was strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 19:28). It highlights the spiritual desperation of those who do not know the true God.
Jeremiah's prophecy against Gaza and Ashkelon reflects the ongoing turmoil and shifting imperial powers in the region, particularly the rise of Babylon and the weakening of formerly dominant nations like the Philistines, who were known for their ancient conflicts with Israel.
c. 1200 BC
Philistine Migration to Canaan
The Philistines, a seafaring people, settled along the southern coast of Canaan, establishing a league of five city-states (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron). They became a significant power in the region.
c. 1000 BC - 732 BC
Philistine Dominance and Conflict
For centuries, the Philistines frequently warred with and oppressed the Israelites, culminating in events like the story of Goliath and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant. This period established them as a formidable regional power.
734-732 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Philistia
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under Tiglath-Pileser III, conquered much of the Levant, including the Philistine cities. This marked the beginning of a decline in Philistine autonomy.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportations
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins his campaigns against the region, including Judah and surrounding nations. This sets the stage for wider Babylonian influence and future destruction.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians, and many Judeans are exiled. This event signifies the rise of Babylon as the dominant empire and the vulnerability of Judah and its neighbors.
c. 600 BC - 580 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Prophecy Against Philistia
Jeremiah delivers prophecies of judgment against the Philistines, foretelling the devastation of their cities like Gaza and Ashkelon. This occurred during the turbulent period of the Babylonian ascendancy.
332 BC
Alexander the Great's Conquest
Alexander the Great conquered the region, including Gaza, after a lengthy siege. This ended the Persian period and brought Hellenistic influence to the area.
This passage directly prohibits the kind of self-mutilation mentioned in Jeremiah 47:5, highlighting the extreme and forbidden nature of the Philistines' mourning rituals as a sign of God's judgment.
Ezekiel 25:15-17Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel prophesies against the Philistines, specifically mentioning vengeance upon them for their 'hostile rage' and detailing divine retribution, echoing the doom declared upon Gaza and Ashkelon.
Amos 1:6-8Amos also pronounces judgment on the Philistine cities, including Gaza and Ashkelon, for their transgressions, showing a consistent prophetic concern for divine justice against these coastal powers.
1 Samuel 17:4-10The mention of the Anakim (giants) in some translations of Jeremiah 47:5, and the scholarly discussion around it, connects to the famous story of Goliath from Gath, another Philistine city, emphasizing a long history of conflict and divine opposition to this people.
Jeremiah 16:6This verse in Jeremiah also describes 'baldness' and self-wounding as signs of extreme mourning, underscoring that the Philistines are engaging in the same desperate and prohibited expressions of grief that Jeremiah had already associated with God's judgment on Judah.
pulpitJeremiah 47:5: "Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?"
Verses 5-7. - The prophet changes his style. In ecstasy or imagination, he sees the calamity which he has foretold already come to pass. Philistia is not, indeed, altogether annihilated; it was not the will of God to make a full end as yet with any of the nations round about. But it is reduced to extremities, and fears the worst. Verse 5. - Baldness. A sign of the d…
barnesJeremiah 47:5: "Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?"
Baldness - Extreme mourning (see Jeremiah 16:6 ). Is cut off - Others render, is speechless through grief. With the remnant of their valley - Others, O remnant of their valley, how long wilt thou cut thyself? Their valley is that of Gaza and Ashkelon, the low-lying plain, usually called the Shefelah, which formed the territory of the Philistines. The reading of the…
The verse vividly portrays Philistine cities in deep mourning, using "baldness" as a symbol of extreme sorrow. However, the phrase "remnant of their valley" hints at something more: it may not just refer to survivors in a geographic area, but also potentially the last vestiges of a once-powerful people, or even echoes of ancient giants mentioned elsewhere in Scripture, suggesting a layered sense of decline.
The prophet Jeremiah is vividly describing the impending doom of the Philistine cities, particularly Gaza and Ashkelon. He paints a picture of deep mourning and utter devastation already occurring, contrasting their former prominence with their imminent ruin. The prophecy then directly questions the survivors in their now-devastated land, challenging their self-inflicted sorrow as if it could somehow reverse God's judgment.
The prophet Jeremiah is vividly describing the impending doom of the Philistine cities, particularly Gaza and Ashkelon. He paints a picture of deep mourning and utter devastation already occurring, contrasting their former prominence with their imminent ruin. The prophecy then directly questions the survivors in their now-devastated land, challenging their self-inflicted sorrow as if it could somehow reverse God's judgment.
"Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves?" — The verse vividly portrays Philistine cities in deep mourning, using "baldness" as a symbol of extreme sorrow. However, the phrase "remnant of their valley" hints at something more: it may not just r…
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Last reviewed October 2026